Method and system for integration of shared calendars with messaging applications

Abstract

A method at an electronic device, the method including receiving a message at the electronic device; processing the message to find a potential calendar event; comparing correspondents of the message with membership in at least one shared calendar accessible by the electronic device; selecting a shared calendar based on the comparing; and populating a calendar input field with an identifier of the selected calendar.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method at an electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving an instant message via an instant messaging application at the electronic device via a communications subsystem; 
 processing the received instant message to find a potential calendar event; 
 determining a list of correspondents associated with the received instant message, the list of correspondents including at least a sender of the received instant message and a recipient of the received instant message; 
 determining a plurality of shared calendars accessible by the electronic device via a calendar application, the calendar application distinct from the instant messaging application, each shared calendar of the plurality of shared calendars comprising a set of time slots which are viewable and editable by each member of each shared calendar; 
 selecting a shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars such that each correspondent in the list of correspondents are members of the shared calendar; and 
 populating a calendar input field with an identifier of the shared calendar. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars further comprises providing a choice of at least one shared calendar on a user interface. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein populating the calendar input field further comprises providing a prompt on a user interface to confirm whether the potential calendar event should be added to the shared calendar. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a second instant message via the instant messaging application at the electronic device via the communications subsystem; 
 processing the second instant message to find a potential cancellation of an event; 
 determining a second shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars via the calendar application based on correspondents in the second instant message and membership in the second shared calendar; 
 searching the second shared calendar for a calendar entry corresponding to the event; and 
 deleting the event. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input at the electronic device to toggle alerts for a message thread associated with the received instant message; 
 finding a third shared calendar of the plurality of shared calendars accessible by the electronic device via the calendar application, the third shared calendar having the same membership as correspondents of the message thread; and 
 changing an alert status for the third shared calendar based on the input. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received instant message comprises a plurality of potential dates for the potential calendar event, the method further comprising:
 creating a plurality of events in the shared calendar; 
 flagging each of the plurality of events as tentative using a tentative flag; and 
 removing the tentative flag or deleting at least one of the plurality of events upon receiving further instant messages about the potential calendar event. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the received instant message comprises an indeterminate time for the potential calendar event, the method further comprising:
 creating an indeterminate event in the shared calendar; 
 flagging the indeterminate event as tentative using a tentative flag; and 
 removing the tentative flag and updating a time for the indeterminate event upon receiving further instant messages about the potential calendar event. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising providing a reminder if no further instant messages are received within a determined time period. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device comprising:
 a communications subsystem; and 
 a processor coupled to the communications subsystem, wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive, via the communications subsystem, an instant message using an instant messaging application; 
 process the received instant message to find a potential calendar event; 
 determine a list of correspondents associated with the received instant message, the list of correspondents including at least a sender of the received instant message and a recipient of the received instant message; 
 determine a plurality of shared calendars accessible by the electronic device via a calendar application, the calendar application distinct from the instant messaging application, each shared calendar of the plurality of shared calendars comprising a set of time slots which are viewable and editable by each member of each shared calendar; 
 select a shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars such that each correspondent in the list of correspondents are members of the shared calendar; and 
 populate a calendar input field with an identifier of the shared calendar. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars by providing a choice of at least one shared calendar on a user interface. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a prompt on a user interface to confirm whether the potential calendar event should be added to the shared calendar. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, via the communications subsystem, a second instant message using the instant messaging application; 
 process the second instant message to find a potential cancellation of an event; 
 determine a second shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars via the calendar application based on correspondents in the second instant message and membership in the second shared calendar; 
 search the second shared calendar for a calendar entry corresponding to the event; and 
 delete the event. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive an input at the electronic device to toggle alerts for a message thread associated with the received instant message; 
 find a third shared calendar of the plurality of shared calendars accessible by the electronic device via the calendar application, the third shared calendar having the same membership as correspondents of the message thread; and 
 change an alert status for the third shared calendar based on the input. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the received instant message comprises a plurality of potential dates for the potential calendar event, the processor being further configured to:
 create a plurality of events in the shared calendar; 
 flag each of the plurality of events as tentative using a tentative flag; and 
 remove the tentative flag or delete at least one of the plurality of events upon receiving further instant messages about the potential calendar event. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the received instant message comprises an indeterminate time for the potential calendar event, the processor being further configured to:
 create an indeterminate event in the shared calendar; 
 flag the indeterminate event as tentative using a tentative flag; and 
 remove the tentative flag and updating a time for the indeterminate event upon receiving further instant messages about the potential calendar event. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a reminder if no further instant messages are received within a determined time period. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instruction code which, when executed by a processor of an electronic device causes the electronic device to:
 receive, via a communications subsystem, an instant message using an instant messaging application; 
 process the received instant message to find a potential calendar event; 
 determine a list of correspondents associated with the received instant message, the list of correspondents including at least a sender of the received instant message and a recipient of the received instant message; 
 determine a plurality of shared calendars accessible by the electronic device via a calendar application, the calendar application distinct from the instant messaging application, each shared calendar of the plurality of shared calendars comprising a set of time slots which are viewable and editable by each member of each shared calendar; 
 select a shared calendar from the plurality of shared calendars such that each correspondent in the list of correspondents are members of the shared calendar; and 
 populate a calendar input field with an identifier of the shared calendar.